Saddletree and rigging therefor



July 16, 1940. L. H. HAMLEY 2,207,982.

` SADDLETREE AND RIGGING THEREFOR' Filed Feb. 18, 1939 Patented July 16, 1940 e UNITED STATESy PATENT OFFICE SADDLETREE AND RIGGING THEREFOR Lester H. Hamley, Pendleton, Oreg.

Application February 18, 1939, Serial No. 257,169

2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to western, or cowboy, riding saddles, and particularly to a saddletree and stirrup leather rigging therefor.

The main object of this invention is to con- 5 struct a saddle having free swinging stirrup leathers whose natural position is well forward.

The second object is to construct a saddletree having smooth saddle bars on the side nearest the horse.

The third `object is to construct a saddletree in which the stirrup leathers do not come in contact with the horses sides and therefore do not absorb sweat to cause the stirrup leathers to crack and rot.

I'he fourth object is to vconstruct. the saddletree in a waythat the swinging of the stirrup will not cause the. stirrupfle'athers to be unduly stretched along the edges thereof.

The fifth object is to construct the saddletree in a manner that the seat can be built slightly narrower at the front than in ,the ordinary tree thereby providing more comfort for 'the rider.

The sixth object is to construct a stirrup leather rigging whichmay be adapted or appli to any style of saddletree.

The seventh object is to construct a saddle in which any style of rigging can be used and in which thevrigging draft can be placed in any position.`

yThese and other objects are accomplished in the manner set forth in the following specification as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig.y 1 is a side elevation of a-completed tree 35 showing the position of my improved stirrup supporting bar.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the completed tree showing the latigos and stirrup leathers in place and showing in dotted lines the free angular 40 movement provided the stirrup leathers. Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section taken along the line 3--3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 4 4 in Fig. 2. v

45 Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along the' line 5-'-5 in Fig. 1.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring in detail to the drawing, there isv 50 shown a representative form of saddletree in which the horn I0 is mounted on the front II which is connected to the back I2 by means of the saddle bars I3. The cantle I4 is disposed across the back I2.

The parts thus far described will vary con- 5, siderably in detail depending upon the particular style of saddle of which they form a part.

'I'here is also shown a front rigging strap I5 and rear rigging strap I6, the lower ends of which terminate in the ring `Il to which are l() attached the latigos I8 of the cincha I9.

Referring now to my invention, it will be seen in Fig. 3 that the saddle bar I3 is cut away to form a shoulder 234 on its outer side alongside of `which is secured the stirrup supporting bar' 24 l5 whose upturned ends 25 are held by means of the bolts 26 to the saddle bar I3.

It will be noted that in this construction the fro-nt rigging I5 is also lowered so that the front rigging strap 2l which supports the ring rIl is 20 entirely below the stirrup leather 28 which passes around the stirrup suppo-rting bar24 instead of around the saddle bar portion I3. v

It can be seen from the foregoing that the stirrup leather 28 is free to swing from the support- 25 ing bar 24 whereas the stirrup leather 2B in any existing' prior art saddle can swing only from the lower end of the ring I'I. Not only does this construction provide free swinging stirrups, but it also places their normal position well rforward 30 and in addition thereto it is easier on the horse and rider besides adding to the life of the stirrup leather itself by protecting it against the sweat of the horse as well as eliminating the edgewise bending of the stirrup leathers. I claim:

l. A saddletree characterized by, having its side bar recessed along its lower outer edge1 said recess having a rigging ring attached thereto, said recess also having a U-shaped stirrup strap 40 supporting bar disposed therein outside of said rigging ring and having its upper ends embedded within the upper portion of said side bar and secured thereto. ,v

2. A saddletree characterized byhaving a recess formed along the lower outer edge of each side bar and having a U-shaped stirrup supporting bar disposed in each of said recesses. and attached at its upper ends to its respective side bar.

LESTER H.. I-IAMIIEFY'. 50 

